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Friday, April 29, 2011

I received the following email this morning from a strong pro-life defender. (Thanks, Richard!) Let us pray for the people of Hungary who retain their sanity in an insane world:

Hungary just adopted a new constitution protecting marriage and the right to life from conception on.
Some key bits from the newly passed Constitution:

We are proud that one thousand years ago our king, Saint Stephen, based the Hungarian State on solid foundations, and made our country a part of Christian Europe.

We acknowledge the role Christianity has played in preserving our nation. We respect all our country's religious traditions.

Article K

(1) Hungary shall protect the institution of marriage, understood to be the conjugal union of a man and a woman based on their independent consent; Hungary shall also protect the institution of the family, which it recognizes as the basis for survival of the nation.

(2) Hungary shall promote the commitment to have and raise children.

Article II
Human dignity shall be inviolable. Everyone shall have the right to life and human dignity; the life of the foetus shall be protected from the moment of conception.

May God pour out His blessings on Hungary to show the rest of the world that love of truth and life brings the bounty of the Lord. May their quivers be full and all the bounty of the Lord be poured to overflowing into their laps! We can expect gnashing of teeth from all the usual suspects accusing Hungary of being a backwater nation of bigots who deny women's "reproductive rights" and the "human right" to buggery. St. Michael the Archangel, protect them!

I hate to rain on Kate and William's big day, but isn't anybody uneasy about the hoopla when the couple was living together (i.e., shacking up) for months before the engagement? Talk about a thoroughly modern couple! Of course, there was something pretty sick about Charles and Diana only meeting thirteen times before their engagement. But that doesn't make Kate and William's decision right. It certainly is no preparation for a lifetime of love and fidelity. Statistics about the endurance of relationships after cohabitation are not reassuring.

Let's pray that the marriage lasts and that William and Kate become a true icon of family life for the U.K., but the start is a rocky one no matter how much it resembles a fairy tale.

This story sounds a loud warning for the future. "Gay" activists rule. They will intimidate and destroy you if you oppose their agenda. King and Spalding, the law firm hired by the Republicans to defend DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) pulled out of the case after intimidation and threats from the sodomite community. As a result, Paul D. Clement, the lawyer selected to represent the case, has resigned from the firm. Here's the scoop from LifeSiteNews:

Clement, a former solicitor general of the United States under President George W. Bush, immediately resigned from King & Spalding and will continue to represent the House of Representatives in the case.

As The New York Times reported, Clement said: “I resign out of the firmly held belief that a representation should not be abandoned because the client’s legal position is extremely unpopular in certain quarters. … Defending unpopular clients is what lawyers do. I recognized from the outset that this statute implicates very sensitive issues that prompt strong views on both sides. But having undertaken the representation, I believe there is no honorable course for me but to complete it.”

Honorable men still walk the earth! Two thumbs down for the cowards at King and Spalding; two thumbs up for Paul Clement!

Fr. Pfleger, the lunatic of St. Sabina's apparently jerked Cardinal George's chain once too often. After saying he'd leave the Church rather than leave St. Sabina's, the cardinal replied, “If that is really your attitude, you have already left the Catholic Church and are therefore not able to pastor a Catholic parish,” Orthodox Catholics in Chicago must be dancing in the streets. Good-bye, Fr. Pleger. I'm sure you'll be welcomed in the pro-gay, pro-abortion Episcopal Church USA. Take your heresy there and good riddance.

For the past few days, I've immersed myself in Gilbert Magazine, the bi-monthly publication of the American Chesterton Society, which means I've been thinking about words. I doubt Chesterton ever made a statement or used a word without having a clear thought behind it. Woe is me, I cannot claim the same thing. I often make silly or stupid statements when my mouth is running before my brain is in gear. But there is a cure for that: READ MORE CHESTERTON. And then reflect on it.

Today, after reading Fr. James Schall's essay in the Nov/Dec issue (alas, I'm way behind as usual), I was intrigued enough to look up Chesterton's essay, The Silliness of Educated People. What a gem! His analysis of the statement of a British M.P. is hilarious:

Now and then one gets a sentence of monstrous and entangled unintelligence; and it is remarkable to observe that it is almost always quoted from some person of social importance -- a man in what is called a good position; a man with letters after his name. In this case the man was a Member of Parliament; and the words that came forth from him were these: "Any law which enables a man to resist temptation by preventing him from doing wrong, is a good law."

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Years ago, before I was married and had children, a time so distant it fades in memory, I had a conversation with my boss about the homogenization of towns and cities. There were, he said, very few places left that exuded a sense of uniqueness. Why? Because of what Chesterton was already seeing in 1929. The "big store" had made the street monotonous. The chains were taking over everywhere eliminating and driving out the unique.

It's true isn't it? How far can you go without coming upon the ubiquitous strip of McDonalds, Burger King, Target, WalMart, CVS, RiteAid, Cracker Barrel, International House of Pancakes, Starbucks, etc.? How many mom and pop stores have been driven out of business and replaced by the monsters? You can be sure that even in a city like Washington, D.C. that has a national mall uncluttered by the chains, they are only a few blocks away. And that has made cities, for the most part, boring as Chesterton points out.

It has, however, inspired my own little rebellion. I will not shop at WalMart unless I can't get what I need anywhere else in town. Instead of going to breakfast at our nearby Cracker Barrell which is loud and unappealing, we go to our little local Seven Bends Restaurant which is decorated with hundreds of black and white cows: pitchers, banks, stuffed toys, windchimes, and anything else you can imagine being made in the shape of a cow. I've gotten to know the waitresses because there are only a few rather than a cast of thousands. In Front Royal, instead of hitting the McDonalds, we prefer to eat at Spelunker's where you can get the best hand-dipped frozen custard in the area or at the Melting Pot pizza place which is a little tawdry but has good food. Spelunkers reminds me of Tubby's in Alexandria where we used to go for chili dogs and homemade custard. Yum, it makes me hungary thinking of it. You can find these gems in many places.

When we travel, we rarely stop at a chain unless we need a quick bathroom break and a soda. (They are good for that.) But when we're ready for a meal, we seek out the one-of-kind mom and pop establishment. If you ask at the Visitor's Center they can almost always recommend a good place with great local food.

As for unique and one-of-a kind people, they are always worth seeking out. And Chesterton gets my vote for one of the most unique of all. More people need to get to know this champion of truth whose writing is, after 100 years, still fresh and invigorating.

One of the corporal works of mercy is to bury the dead. But are graveyards likely to become a thing of the past? California has a bill coming up that allows you to be "dissolved in lye" in lieu of burial or cremation. In view of the way babies have been chemically burned and killed in saline abortions, chemical disposal of dead bodies is a minor issue. So why does it give me the heebie jeebies to read about it?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The end is near. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China's economy will surpass the U.S. in 2016. We will no longer be the economic leader of the world. Like Britain, we are slipping into has-been status. (See article here....)

Isn't it ironic and somehow appropriate that a country that forces its people to kill their children willl overtake a nation that happily and willingly killed them while calling it a "right" and a "choice." Economic punishment for America is justice from God. We have no right to complain. Few of us have done enough to end the killing. We are just beginning to reap the bitter consequences.

Monday, April 25, 2011

The so-called Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) isn't about protecting America from pollution but raping the American taxpayer. With fuel costs skyrocketing we are paying to help Brazil produce oil. Makes a lot of sense eh? What do we do to those exploring here like Shell? Give them the shaft. Don't be fooled. This is all about redistributing income away from the American taxpayer. Liberals hate America. During the campaign Obama said our best days are behind us and he has been going gangbusters to make sure he fulfills that prediction. Shell can appeal the ruling but note who's on the appeal's panel:

The Environmental Appeals Board has four members: Edward Reich, Charles Sheehan, Kathie Stein and Anna Wolgast. All are registered Democrats and Kathie Stein was an activist attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund. Members are appointed by the EPA administrator.

EPA needs to be shut down. Give its functions back to the states who are closest to local problems and can address them more effectively. In my own community we are fighting the sludge issue. EPA is perfectly happy to have treated sewage used as fertilizer on our farms. I don't care how much you treat it, I'm not interested in consuming human sewage on my farm produce.

Prior to the 2008 general election, I wrote a column titled "Is the USA Ready for an American Stalin?" Tragically, it was far more prescient that I had thought. Each day under Obama and his go along to get along Congress brings us closer and closer to the old USSR. A USSR that had Stalin destroying food so that people would starve to death and the population would be reduced. People stood in line for hours and sometimes days for a loaf of bread. A smaller population is easier to suppress. The Russian people were virtual prisoners within the USSR and completely at the mercy of the Communist rulers who lived large and well while the people starved or froze to death. An immobile population is easier to contain.

When you consider 1) rising fuel prices which suppress travel of all forms, 2) rising food prices which impacts everyone's ability to meet the basic necessities of life, 3) high unemployment, 4) high inflation which reduces the value of the dollar and increases the cost of everything...this article makes a lot of sense. Combine it with the Soros machinations to destroy the dollar as the international currency and we face rough roads ahead.

Fulton Sheen often spoke of his ordination day promise to make a holy hour every day. He was faithful to his promise throughout his priesthood. When his canonization takes place, it will be a witness to the power of daily prayer.

If you've never read his Life of Christ or his autobiography, Treasure in Clay, you have some treats in store.

When someone in a politically correct minority commits suicide because of harrassment you can be sure you will here about it over and over and over and over (yes, and over) again. But if it appears a suicide results from a plot in liberal academia...ho-hum. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Pray for the repose of the soul of Antonio Calvo.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

This morning I read Phil Lawler's article in the March issue of Catholic World Report titled God's Man, about the upcoing beatification of Pope John Paul II. It isn't currently on-line so if you want to read it you'll have to buy or beg a copy. Lawler is always worth reading and he supports the process and the decision. He wound up his analysis by saying critics are either conspiracy theorists or disbelieve in miracles. That, I think, is simplistic, and I cannot agree.

On the other side of the beatification debate comes an article from The Remnant expressing concerns and disagreement with the beatification. They make a number of salient points.

I know, I know...some of you are rolling your eyes. But there certainly are some issues that can lead one to be....mmmm....uneasy? about the haste to raise John Paul to the honors of the altar ahead of so many other worthy popes. I suggest you read The Remnant article - after all, there's a devil's advocate in the canonization process for a reason.

These are my own concerns:

1) Pope John Paul II was charismatic, warm, and charming. But there was an element of American Idol hooplah accompanying his globe-trotting and crowd-pleasing events. Dare I call it theatrical? The media often spoke about his rock-star appeal. Is that what was illustrated by the chant of "Santo subito!" rather than the sensus fidelium? How many of those calling for instant sainthood accept the fullness of Catholic doctrine? In the U.S. ninety percent reject Church teaching on contraception. 70% disbelieve in the Real Presence. What does "Santo subito!" mean coming from modern Catholics? Was this, I ask again, the sensus fidelium of the Catholic people or the equivalent of American Idol's vote?

2) John Paul II definitely won the popularity contest over other popes like Pius XII and Leo XIII, but the devastation to the faith during his 26 year reign doesn't reflect well on his governance. Ah, but it's not about his governance, they say, but his personal holiness. That seems specious to me, as if a dad can let his children run amuck, and even provide assistance for their misdeeds, while being personally pious and holy. He had some good advisors like Fr. John Hardon, S.J. That didn't prevent him from giving some of the worst clerical dissenters in the U.S. mitres and red hats.

3) But there's a miracle, you say. Yes, and, according to the remnant article, the miracle is less explicit than those for previously beatified popes. I also read an article that other cures submitted, cancer for example, were not used because they require a longer wait time to make sure the disease hasn't just gone into remission. But could that not also be the case with Sister's Parkinsons? One doctor suggested that it could be another neurological condition that sometimes goes into sudden remission. It will be interesting to see if Sister's cure persists.

3) The pope's cause was introduced under the relaxed standards the pope put in place himself. Isn't that a conflict of interest?

4) Why the hurry? Despite the assurances that nothing is different about the rigorous investigation, one wonders why there was such haste and rush to judgment. It all seems so... politically correct. Meanwhile, the cause for Pope Pius XII lies dormant despite what appears to be Pope John Paul II's own witness to his predecessor' sanctity. See here...

There are certainly things I admired about Pope John Paul: his love for Our Lady and the rosary, his wonderful pronouncements on life, his contageous smile, the way he kissed the earth when he arrived in a place, his obvious love for children, his devotion to St. Faustina and Divine Mercy. When he came to Washington and Baltimore we took our family to see him. We went out to Andrews airport for his farewell where we climbed a tree like Zaccheus to catch a glimpse of him on the tarmac and climbing the stairs to board the plane. Nevertheless, a slower process would have better served all of the faithful which includes those of us who are fighting the dismal results of John Paul's reign.

For those who want to accuse me of lacking fidelity to the Church for daring to raise these questions, I can only say, nonsense... it's not an ifallible teaching. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia most theologians believe that canonization is covered by the protection of infallibility. Beatification is not. Those who wish to venerate and pray to Pope John Paul II have the freedom to do so. Those of us who are less enthusiastic over the results of his pontificate have the option to pray for him instead. I wonder which he would prefer.

See story at Live Action. This happened yesterday, Good Friday. It was the place of crucifixion for this latest holy innocent. The bishop of El Paso asked police to release the baby's body for burial. So far, the request has been denied. Here's the latest:

UPDATE AND ACTION: El Paso police are refusing to release this child into the hands of those who are wanting to provide a proper burial. Call the El Paso police department and demand justice for this child! This baby deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Demand a proper burial for this tiny child! Please call 915-564-7000

Friday, April 22, 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011

It's been one of those weeks. I started with the respiratory crud last weekend and it is hanging on and on and on. I get on these coughing jags and can't stop. So I've been dosing myself with honey lemon tea and using vicks, but I knew I couldn't make it through a long service with incense. So I'm home saying my rosary and reading the Mass instead. It just isn't the same. Hope I can make services tomorrow. The Easter Triduum is my favorite time of the liturgical year. Bring me to Church in spirit, Lord, that I might worship with my husband and parish family.

American taxpayers should demand that the U.S. defund the United Nations. It would help our bottom line and preserve many third world countries from population control measures that kill their children in exchange for our foreign aid. What kind of choice is that?

Pro-abortion liberals in the U.S. depend on the "reproductive rights" language in U.N. documents to impose the culture of death on the poor. It is the worst kind of imperialism to consider solving the problem of poverty by killing the children of the poor.

UPDATE: Wonkette took the page down after about 25 advertisers pulled off of the site. Clicking on the link below gives you a message "page not found."

Wonkette, the liberal D.C. blogger, ran a post ridiculing Trig Palin on his birthday. (See here...) The despicable post resulted in an immediate backlash and loss of several advertisers including Papa Johns, Vanguard, and Huggies. Good for them! Ninety percent of Downs babies are murdered in the womb thanks, in part, to the prejudice shown by people like Jack Stuef who wrote the post.

Now I have never read Wonkette's blog, so this was my first visit. I had to take a shower when I was finished. The site overflows with articles using gratuitous ridicule. For example, a post on D.C. in the summer takes a slap at both Passover and Easter (and presumably those who celebrate them):

Happy third day of Passover to all our Jewish friends and a hoppy almost Easter to “everyone else!” Jews eating matza and the celebration of when Jesus returned to say “howdy” to all his followers before going away again are two exciting occasions that mark fertility, horny rabbits, and most importantly, spring.

This is what passes for humor on the Wonkette website which substitutes contempt and ridicule for reasoned argument. Wonkette especially hates Sarah Palin in an almost mad-dog, foaming at the mouth style. It is truly ugly, playing to the liberal mob.

But can that possibly be true? After all, liberals are nice, even nicer than nice. We know this because they tell us so all the time. Conservatives, on the other hand, are mean and cruel. They want old people to eat dog food and children to be deprived of health care. (They probably kick their pets too.)

The post on Trig Palin stripped the mask of compassion off these troglodytes.

“Homosexual acts are intrinsically evil, and if one does them with full knowledge and consent, they’re mortal sins and place one’s eternal salvation in the gravest of jeopardy." Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 15, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Priests should not use concerns over “prudence” as an excuse to avoid speaking boldly on the immorality of homosexual acts, says Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska.

“Caution and prudence are important, but I don’t think they should be excuses for not properly speaking when speaking is necessary or extremely important pastorally,” the bishop told LifeSiteNews this week.Read more....

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Culture of Death would gladly kill every child with Downs Syndrome and other trisomy disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, TaySachs, and autism. After all, who would want to live like that? (Sound familiar?) Well, here's a young girl who had the "coming out" party of all coming outs when she sat down at a computer keyboard and typed her first two words, hurt and help. And now she is teaching the world to look at autism in a new way. She's a gift and invitation to the world, not a curse and a burden.

Pray for all those who are challenged by physical and mental disabilities. They are God's special ones who invite us to demonstrate our capacity to love. See the incredible love of Carly's dad and pray for all dads to defend their children like he does.

This morning's gospel tells of Judas' betrayal of Jesus. After selling the Master for thirty pieces of silver, Judas, "from that time on...looked for an opportunity to hand Him over."

Betrayal....

Mankind knows all about it. I just finished reading Left to Tell, the story of Immaculee Ilibagiza, survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. One of the most shocking aspects of the mass murder is that neighbors and friends became a bloodthirsty mob killing those they had lived side-by-side with in peace and friendship. Can you imagine picking up a machete and attacking your neighbors? And why? Because they belonged to the wrong tribe! Day after day the radio blared its dehumanizing message to "Kill the cockroaches"...

Kill them, kill them, kill them all;

kill them big and kill them small!

Kill the old and kill the young...

a baby snake is still a snake,

kill it too, let none escape!

Kill them, kill them, kill them all!

And so the bloodlust went on for months while neighbor murdered neighbor leaving bodies in the streets, looting and burning homes.

Could such a thing happen here? It already is. Every year we commit the equivalent of the Rwandan massacre when over a million babies in the womb are brutally killed. We don't call them "cockroaches" although some describe them as "parasites." We dehumanize them with a Latin term, "fetus," that means "young one."

Yes, the temptation to betrayal is as close as my own heart. It is only by staying close to Jesus that a soul can resist the world, the flesh, and the devil. Read Immaculee's story and weep for man's inhumnity to his fellow man. Then pray and work for peace beginning with peace in the womb!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Diocese of Salt Lake has hired Jean Welch Hill to run the diocesan CCHD (Catholic Campaign for Human Development). See LifeSiteNews She's a heretic! Are you offended by my use of the word heretic? Let me clarify. A heretic is someone who dissents from a doctrine of the Church. An apostate is someone who rejects the faith in its entirety. The question is, why would a diocese hire someone who publicly supports heretical position including: the murder of babies in the womb, contraception, and same-sex marriage? In her 2008 campaign she was the darling of Planned Parenthood and the "gays." In addition to her role as CCHD head, she also takes charge of the Peace and Justice Commission. What about the demands of peace and justice for babies waiting to be born?

This is what Mike Voris was talking about in his Vortex on The Crisis Within the Crisis. Hiring this woman is like the Church hiring Martin Luther to run evangelization programs. It's insane. The Diocese says the woman is faithful. That's not what her history shows. So let's see the document where she publicly repudiates her errors and repents of scandalizing, especially young people in our schools.

Bishop Weston has done some good things which makes this appointment even more baffling. Is he all talk? Are babies in the womb subordinate to the political experience of a Church lobbyist? If so, we are in bigger trouble than ever.

Here's the contact information for the Bishop. Express your concern over this baffling appointment and ask for the documentation that this woman has recanted her heretical positions.

Michael Voris is on target when he describes the crisis the crisis in the Church today and the crisis within the crisis. How many Catholics are unfaithful? How many can't be bothered? How many are whistling and playing video games while the Church lies in ruins?

Voris' commentary reminds me of a crisis in the Old Testament. The city of Jerusalem had been destroyed, its gates burned down, its walls crumbled. One man, Nehemiah, had it laid on his heart to rebuild the holy city.

Interestingly, the Lord provided him the aid of a pagan king and his queen. They gave him permission to go back to Jerusalem, provided him letters of safe passage, supplied him with timber from the royal park, and gave him an escort of army officers and cavalry.

Nehemiah began by making a circuit of the city and inspecting the damage. Then he met with the people of Jerusalem urging, "let us rebuild the wall...so that we may no longer be an object of derision!" Some resisted, but many came forth and joined in the task.

It was a monumental endeavor, but Nehemiah was wise. He broke the task down and gave each family a section of the wall. And the Bible remembers these builders in a list of workers. It is a roll call of honor. (Nehemiah 3)

The enemies of Judah ridiculed the workers and planned to attack when they saw the gaps being closed in. Nehemiah had to reduce the number of workers and assign half the men to watch over the labor. "Each did his work with one hand and held a weapon with the other. Every builder, while he worked, had his sword girt at his side." And a trumpter was assigned to warn all the workers of an attack so that the men could converge on the endangered section of the wall and fight off the invaders.

Nehemiah faced numerous challenges. Betrayal and graft, rebellion and personal attacks. He never gave up. In fact, "he "redoubled (his) efforts." And the wall was finished in only 52 days! With the help of God they accomplished what many said was impossible.

We need and army of Nehemiahs today who listen to the word of the Lord and respond boldly, who are willing to persevere amidst numerous difficulties and obstacles. We will rebuild the Church. But how long it takes will depend on the courage and determination of God's people. Will you help rebuild His Church?

Monday, April 18, 2011

Barack Obama rewarded Douglas Kmiec with the embassy of Malta for betraying the Catholic faith and supporting his radically pro-abortion candidacy. But that's not all Kmiec did. He signed the letter of support by Soros-funded Catholics United for Kathleen Sebelius, an advocate of late-term abortion who had a special relationship with George Tiller...and there are other betrayals as well. Kmiec, sadly, is a Judas. And now he's found out exactly how loyal pro-abortion liars are when the rubber hits the road.

The State Department has trashed Kmiec's reputation because he took Obama's rhetoric about faith-based initiatives seriously and devoted time to working on it. Hillary's minions are giving him the mailed fist and the studded boot treatment -- no doubt Bill could clue him on that.

So Kmiec is resigning -- on the feast of the Blessed Mother no less, August 15th. Perhaps that's his way of trying to atone for his past errors. I hope so, but I wouldn't bet on it. His actions have been absolute head-shakers that show little evidence of the man who used to have a solid pro-life reputation. Well, that's been in shreds since he joined the Obama campaign and now his reputaion as a hard working professional is in shreds as well.

I'm finding it hard to have any sympathy for the man. See my previous posts here and here. In his debate with Robert George at Catholic University, Kmiec came off like a lightweight thinker who was willing to sell the weak and helpless down the river and distort the truth to accomodate his politcal views. I hope he's learned that he was nothing but a patsy for the Democratic liars. I'll certainly pray for him. But when you've committed the kind of betrayal Kmiec has, you have a long way to go to earn back lost trust. And as far as I'm concerned that's impossible as long as he's still affiliated with faux Catholic groups who thrive on attacking fundamental doctrines.

If you want to let Kmiec speak for himself visit his blog. I'm afraid my gag reflex couldn't cope with some of it as I thought how he has aided and abeted the murder of the unborn. His speech at the Anne Frank exhibition was mind boggling when one considers that the holocaust against babies waiting to be born outstripped the Nazi atrocities in the first few years post Roe v. Wade. Here's what he said:

"Failure to love our neighbor is but a short distance from ignoring our neighbor. And that disregard of our neighbor is but a short distance from silently tolerating political, racial, gender, and other illicit forms of oppression and hate."

What about ripping bodies limb from limb? The closest parallel to what happens to the poor little ones in the womb are the photographs from the Rwanda genocide where people were cut down with machetes. And Kmiec has the gall to say "never again?" Actions speak louder than words, man!

As a mother and grandmother I am enraged at those who call themselves "pro-life" and say they are "devout Catholics" while they treat God's "least ones" as trash for the medical waste bin.

Pray for Doug Kmiec. Resigning on Our Lady's feast day will be just one more empty gesture unless he repents of betraying the little ones whom Jesus called to come to Him. If you want to be close to the Lord, defend the babies waiting to be born, Professor Kmiec. Jesus was one of them for nine months. Those who betray them, betray Him.

My son is running in the Boston Marathon today. (Good luck, David!) And the marathon is a great metaphor for the Christian life. St. Paul certainly would have appreciated it. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." (2 Tim. 7) The marathon of life isn't easy. Just like a long race requires serious training and discipline, so does the marathon of life. And if we hope to reach the goal and reap the reward, we can't be half-hearted in our attempt to succeed. We need to "Run as to win...." (1 Cor. 24) In the race of life that means eliminating sin from our life by the grace of God and replacing it with the practice of virtue. "What I do is discipline my own body and master it." (1 Cor. 27) That means life-long training and fortitude and complete dependence on Christ. When we fall, we rise up with the help of God's grace and begin again. If you haven't been to confession, there's still time. Christ is waiting for you.

Holy Week is a good time to resolve once again to dedicate our lives to Christ, pick up our cross daily, and follow Him. He is our help and our salvation, our stronghold, our rock, our fortress, our Deliverer. Whom shall we fear?

May this Holy Week find you drawing ever closer to the source of life and salvation, our risen Lord. He is our trainer and leader in the marathon of life. We will never drop out if we cling to Him in all things and follow Him for the guaranteed win. Then we can join with St. Paul saying, "I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I'm always behind in my reading which explains why I just finished the February issue of Catholic World Report. What a blockbuster issue! The cover article, "The End of the Bernardin Era," was an analysis by Russell Shaw of the bishops' selection of Archbishop Timothy Dolan over the more liberal (I'd call him a dissenter) Gerald Kicanis of Tucson.

Shaw cuts Bernardin more slack than I would. Bernardin had a talent for articulating the Catholic position on an issue an then saying something like, "I'm sure our Catholic people will give due consideration to this in forming their consciences." He always left plenty of wiggle room for cafeteria Catholics. I find that hard to reconcile with Shaw's description of someone with a "sincere love for the Church." More on target, I thought, was his discussion of Bernardin's seamless garment philosophy which gave politicians the ability to claim pro-life status for opposing capital punishment while backing murder of the unborn. Shaw says, "In the face of pro-lifers' protests, Cardinal Bernardin clarified that the consistent ethic shouldn't be read as backing for moral equivalency, but he is not known to have objected strongly to the abuse." True, but a massive understatement!

Where is the bishops' conference going now? Shaw belives it is moving "away from the soft spoken accomodation of a multitude of points of view that often seemed to typify the Bernardin Era, to an outspoken counter-culturalism." I hope he's right!

An article by Jeff Ziegler, "Thinking with the Church," examined Archbishop John Nienstedt of St. Paul/Minneaplis. In our Autumn newsletter we awarded the archbishop our Lamplighter Award for his vigorous defense of traditional marriage. I enjoyed learning more about this faithful son of the Church.

"The State of NaPro Technology" by Chuck Weber is a fascinating article describing the work of Dr. Thomas Hilgers, founder of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha, Nebraska. I met Dr. Hilgers and his wife Susan when he was fresh out of medical school at a fundraiser in D.C. that they organized for Students for Life. I believe Susan was the president at the time. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was their dinner speaker and Susan was all atwitter at meeting the famous (and only?) pro-life Kennedy. The Hilgers are lonely voices against in vitro fertilization which kills perhaps ten times the number of babies conceived by its "brave new world" process. Hilgers' fertility research, on the other hand is "one-and-a-half to three times more successful than in vitro fertilization at helping infertile couples have children -- at a fraction of the cost," 79% effective in fact. Hilgers methods also successfully treat PMS and post-partum depression, reduce premature births and the incidence of birth defects, successfuly treat chronic pelvic pain, and reduce the hysterectomy rate by 75%.

Last fall the Institute held an international conference in Omaha celebrating its 25 year anniversay. Over 200 Fertility Care Centers around the U.S. use NaProTechnology prviding "the entry point for women and couples who are interested in learning the Creighton Model Fertility Care System."

There's lots more in this issue including an interview with one of my favorite bishops, Robert Vasa, who recently moved from Baker, OR to be the coadjutor bishop of Santa Rosa. He will take over there in 2012 when the current bishops reaches mandatory retirement age. There's another fascinating interview with Fr. Gary Thomas, exorcist for the Diocese of San Jose. We all know the devil is active and this priest fights him directly.

If you don't get Catholic World Report you are missing out. The front of the magazine always gives an overview of what's happening in the Church around the world, focusing on the fact that we really are a "universal" Church with the obligation to pray for our brothers and sisters everywhere. And then there's my favorite columnist, "Diogenes," who always get the "last word" (and the last page) of the magazine.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

It's always open season on Catholic and our beliefs. Here's how TFP describes a display at the Oakland Museum of California:

The Oakland Museum of California is hosting an art exhibit that includes a digital portrait of Our Lady of Guadalupe wearing a bikini, held aloft by a topless woman-angel!

Lovely eh? The capacity for insulting Catholics by attacking everything we hold as holy is unlimited. Here's the letter I sent to protest this blasphemy:

I was shocked when I read about your deliberate insult to every Catholic in the country who honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. Would you display a bikini clad image of Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed? Or Abraham's wife Sarah? Or Martin Luther King's mother? Or your own mother?

This deliberate assault on the faith and beliefs of Catholics shows 1) that the "artist" is a bigot and 2) that you are bigot enablers. To consider such work "art" is like considering the garbage dinner.

Please remove this blasphemous work and apologize to the millions of Catholics you have insulted.

I hope you will send your own message to let these Catholic-haters know how you feel. Say the St. Michael the Archangel prayer and go here to let them know what you think about their bigotry. And resolve to make the five First Saturdays of Reparation to atone for the insults to Our Blessed Lady. How pleasing it must be to Jesus to see us consoling His beloved mother.

Friday, April 15, 2011

50,000 Christians are in jail in North Korea for no other reason than they are Christians. Here's a portion of the article from Fides:

The recent report by Darusman presented at the UN Council for Human Rights in Geneva, explains that the judiciary system [of North Korea] lacks independence compared to the regime. Besides the ordinary courts of judicial power, there exists a "parallel justice system" in the country that does not respect any of the procedural guarantees for the accused....

All Koreans or foreigners who fall into the verdicts of these trials, are sent to prison camps where detainees are regularly subjected to torture and cruel and inhuman treatment. The political dissidents and their families, often held for life, suffer hunger and forced labor. Among them are the prisoners of conscience and religion and, according to "Open Doors", there are over 50 thousand Christians....

Freedom of religion in North Korea is totally denied, as well as of conscience, opinion, religion, peaceful association. According to the testimonies of people who escaped from the country, the regime continues an intense anti-religious propaganda, prohibits religious activities and prosecutes those involved in religious activities, including private activities. The regime states that the "Juche", the official ideology of the state, is the only system of thought and belief allowed in North Korea. Read the full article here.

Two movies are coming out in the next few months about the persecution of Catholics in Spain and Mexico during the first half of the 20th century. But persecution is not a thing of the past. Pray for those who love their Christian faith enough to suffer, and even die, for it.

Is there any common ground between the largest abortion killer in the world, Planned Parenthood and the Catholic Church? Hell no! And I mean that literally. Is there any common ground between heaven and hell?

And yet the Cardinal Newman Society has found over 150 so called Catholic schools partnering with Planned Parenthood, one of the most diabolical organizations on the planet. Not included in the Newman list is my own college (now university), Trinity in Washington, D.C. Perhaps they haven't had any internships at Planned Parenthood though it wouldn't surprise me. While Trinity may not be on the Newman list, they deserve exposure as an unfaithful Catholic school. So I'll include some data to warn Catholic parents who may consider sending their girls to this "Catholic" school.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Clement Shahbaz Bhatti spoke out for religious freedom in Pakistan. He opposed the blasphemy laws that required death for those who spoke critically of Islam. He defended the persecuted Christian minority. He knew he was in danger and said very openly he would rather die for Jesus Christ than stop his fight against Sharia Law. Four months ago in an interview with the BBC, he predicted his own assassination. The Taliban took credit for the bloody killing which took place in broad daylight outside the home of his mother.

According to Catholic World News, Bhatti's Bible has been placed by the Vatican in St. Bartholomew's Basilica in a collection of artifacts honoring martyrs of the past century. CWN quoted Bhatti saying:

I have been asked to put an end to my battle, but I have always refused, even at the risk of my own life. My response has always been the same. I do not want popularity, I do not want positions of power. I only want a place at the feet of Jesus. I want my life, my character, my actions to speak of me and say that I am following Jesus Christ. This desire is so strong in me that I consider myself privileged whenever--in my combative effort to help the needy, the poor, the persecuted Christians of Pakistan--Jesus should wish to accept the sacrifice of my life. I want to live for Christ and it is for Him that I want to die. I do not feel any fear in this country.

Pray for this courageous martyr and ask his intercession that those of us living today will have his courage and fortitude to follow Jesus even to the cross of martyrdom. Intercede for us, Clement Shahbaz Bhatti.

This is sick! We have "safe touch" programs in schools where children are told no one should touch them in areas covered by a bathing suit. Then a TSA agent is allowed to grope a little girl, feel inside her pants, touch her bottom and between her legs. This is illegal! Parents need to stand up to this and just say no and then sue TSA for child abuse. We need a class action lawsuit against this. What could that little girl possibly have been hiding in her hair? If we continue to allow this, what abomination will be next?

The Bishops Organization has posted its 2010-2011 CCHD (Catholic Campaign for Human Development) grants and surprise, surprise they are once again going in large numbers to Saul Alinsky community organizing groups that agitate for more government funding. The very first group on the list, Connecticut Sponsoring Committee, advertises itself as a community organizing group in the Alinsky model. Here's some info about the group:

The Connecticut Sponsoring Committee (CSC) is an emerging non-partisan, broadbased, multifaith coalition based in New Haven and Fairfield Counties. People from 28 congregations located across 11 urban and suburban municipalities comprise this multiracial representation of over 22,000 Connecticut residents....

The CSC is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), a national community organizing network established in 1940. Sixty IAF affiliates nationwide are powerful actors in local and state-level politics; for instance, the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization pushed the legislation for universal health care coverage in Massachusetts, and compelled the state treasurer to divest over $200 million in state funds from the Bank of America. After its official founding in 2011 the CSC will be a member of Metro IAF, which is currently spearheading the “10 Percent Is Enough” anti-usury campaign. Read more here...

This organization got a $40,000 grant for "organizational development." Now I'm all for anti-usury legislation, but what they don't tell you is that the IAF finds a few issues with broad-based support that they use for organizational purposes. Then they develop a power base that is all about giving power to the organizers for their pet projects and getting their democratic candidates elected to office. The IAF in many places around the country has engaged in questionable tactics where they bus large groups of people in and intimidate a business or political target. They teach the immoral Alinsky tactics including one that is decidedly anti-Catholic: the ends justify the means.

Worcester Interfaith, another IAF affiliate and grantee ($25,000), brags on its website (2009 Newsletter) about all the success they've had getting more government money for an assortment of projects. One of its "recent" accomplishments was:

WI worked with the Worcester/Fitchburg Building Trades Council to create a landmark agreement to give preference to minorities and women for 50% of the unions' apprenticeship slots from 1999-2001. This effort was so successful that another agreement was signed in 2003.

Isn't it exciting to know that an organization funded by the bishops systematically discriminates against evil white men! Interesting that the bishops, a group of privileged white men doesn't mind formalized discrimination against blue collar white men. Well, how many of them have ever had to get their hands dirty?

I could go on and on about the grantees on the latest list. It is the same old same old -- promoting liberal postions on "comprehensive immigration reform" and funding groups that lobby for democrats. Go on and check it out for yourself. Pick a random group on the list and do some searching on-line. CCHD continues to be a scam that collects money from patsies in the pew who have no idea they are funding this type of "charity."

Shame on the bishops! It's time to cut this program off at the knees. The video below still applies.

Obama talks about civility and bi-partisanship but walks an ugly class warfare and demonizing of his opponents. Check out the Wall Street Journal's analysis (article and video) that shows what a phony Obama is.

In his analysis, Cullen says the rush to find new musical settings for the Novus Ordo mass in the 1960s led to little artistic scrutiny being applied to the process. As a result, he says, most parish Masses now have poorly composed hymns being used inappropriately as mere “filler” throughout the sacred liturgy.

He writes, “Low-quality material in both inspiration and facility is commonplace. Hymns are set to popular music (for example, "My God Loves Me" to the tune of "Plaisir d'amour") with little regard to the inappropriateness of the original and well-known words.”
He also criticized the practice of a lone cantor leading the singing in parishes. “The misuse of one booming voice behind a microphone, an ecclesiastical karaoke, seems to have killed off unified congregational singing.”

He hit the nail on the head. In my own parish I cringe during the Communion when the congregation is silent and the cantor has his/her stage moment. Organ music or silence would be preferable to the distraction of the cabaret atmosphere.

It's time to stop voting party if you ever did. Republicans are not our saviours. Republican state senator Curtis Olafson should be targeted by every pro-lifer when he's up for reelection. Run a pro-life candidate against him in the primary and if he wins put up an independent pro-lifer in the general election. This smells to high heavens like a very calculated maneuver. Wonder what the payoff was.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

My daughter-in-law, Martina, just began blogging at Austin Catholic New Media. I had to laugh when I read her post because it made me realize how out-of-the-loop I am when it comes to using Facebook as an evangelizing tool. Oh, I have a page where all my blogposts go, but the entire Facebook world is like another planet to me. 1200 "friends"? But Martina has a talent for discussing serious things in a non-acrimonious way and with a healthy seasoning of humor. Take a look at her post and see for yourself.

"I want to try to stay in the Catholic Church,” Pfleger told [radio] show hosts Smiley and West. “If they say ‘You either take this principalship of [Leo High School] or pastorship there or leave,’ then I’ll have to look outside the church.”

Take that, Cardinal George! Fr. Pfleger, who placed his hands in yours on ordination day and promised obedience, just won't go. He'll leave Holy Mother Church rather than obey.

It won't be the first time a prodigal runs away from home. And this prodigal has been doing that for years, running away from the faith and taking his people with him. He's a prodigal right in the comfort of his own parish, which he's turned into a three ring circus. And his protestations against doctrine have resulted in little, if any, actions taken to correct his dissent (a polite word for heresy).

Pray that the cardinal holds his ground and that Pfleger means what he says. Can you imagine this man as a principal overseeing the Catholic education of youngsters, or any other education for that matter? One hopes the cardinal hasn't taken leave of his senses, but expects this rebel in a roman collar to do exactly what he says -- leave -- just like Judas. On the other hand, it was Lucifer who said, "I will not serve."

Pray for Fr. Pfleger. And if you aren't familiar with his clownish antics here's a sample. I look forward to the day we can say, "Good-bye and good riddance to your heresy. Come back when you 'come to your senses.'"

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

No...I think Donald Trump's pro-life "conversion" is self-serving and not very deep if it isn't a total sham. As for his running for president...well, it's April after all and maybe it's a long running April Fool's joke. The man is a publicity hound and what better way to get publicity than to play the White House card and get on the eligibility bandwagon. But if any of this is for real I'll be surprised.

Pray for the man, though. Wouldn't it be great if he really became 100% pro-life and put his money at the service of Our Lord. He could save a lot of babies! Read more here....

I was listening briefly to Laura Ingraham on the way home from church this morning -- just long enough for a good guffaw. She was playing a clip (missed the source) of a man talking about Obama being responsible for loss of jobs. Excuse me? He certainly isn't helping the situation, but his two years have had little to do with the collapse of manufacturing in this country and the accompanying job loss. The steel industry went south about fifteen years ago and had a big impact on members of my husband's family who worked for Pittsburgh and Wheeling Steel. They lost jobs and pensions and Obama wasn't even a twinkle on the horizon. Now where does most of our steel come from? China and Russia?

The last time I was in a department store, every clothing item I picked up was from China, India, Indonesia, or VietNam. Are there any shoe factories in the U.S. anymore? How about toys? Linens? Rugs? We used to have a Levi factory here in Woodstock. It closed several years before Obama. Now it's a roller rink offering low level service jobs (and not many at that). A few miles south of us the Merrilat cabinet manufacturer laid off workers with the housing collapse. They used to run round the clock with three shifts. No more!

I'm no fan of Obama but the collapse of our manufacturing predates this administration by years...and years. Democratic policies have been disastrous, but what have the Republicans done to fix things when they are in office? Darned little. Like Joe Sobran always quipped. We have the choice of the evil party or the stupid party.

And what about ourselves? Some of our problem is due to the greed of American consumers who want more and more and more junk at cheaper and cheaper and cheaper prices. I like cheap too...that's why I go to the thrift store. But I don't need fifty pairs of shoes and twenty five dresses. And who needs every electronic gadget on the market? We can't compete with countries like China that keep their prices artificially low and pay slave wages and use convicts as factory fodder. We can't compete with the sweatshops of the third world and we shouldn't try. I don't know how you get other countries to pay a living wage, but the way to stop this country being a dumping ground for cheap goods is protective tarrifs and trade balance. We've been running a trade deficit since the 1980s and a long-term trade imbance destabalizes an economy. Unemployment increases, currency is undermined, and foreign debt becomes a serious problem. Sound familiar? Pretty soon we'll be a third world country ourselves. The middle class is disappearing. They're working at WalMart and McDonalds.

What can the individual do to stop the insanity? Live like a Christian for starters. Moderation in all things. As I look around my house, my own words convict me. But I want to get to the point where I have moderation indoors and glut outdoors. You can have too much stuff, but you can never have too many flowers and vegetables. Make your abundance visible in your garden and share its produce. As for the stuff, follow the Fly Lady's advice. If you have two of something that you only need one of, keep the one you like best and give the other away.

Monday, April 11, 2011

I blogged a few days ago about this situation under the title MikeVoris: the Stoning of a Prophet. Here's more on the story from Mike Voris himself (below). The thing that concerns me most here is that Archbishop Vigneron of Detroit has a reputation for orthodoxy. So who in the chancery badmouthed Real Catholic TV to the Scranton Bishop? Was Archbishop Vigneron aware? If he was, his reputaion takes a serious blow. If he was not, who's running things in Detroit? In either case it reflects badly on the Archdiocese.

I think I'll write to the Archbishop and ask him. If you want to join me, here's the contact information. I follow three rules of thumb when I write to bishops and politicians (Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference.): short, to the point, and polite. Snail mail or FAX probably gets more attention than email.

There are heroes of history who stood up for the faith when it meant their lives and their livelihood: faithful Catholics in Elizabeth's England, faithful Catholics in France during the Reign of Terror, Faithful Catholics in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, faithful Catholics in Mexico in the early 20th century when a secular government sought to destroy the Church. History is filled with everyday heroes who defended the faith at the cost of their lives. If it was illegal to be a Catholic in the United States, what would you do?
I look forward to seeing these two soon-to-be-released films. May God give us the courage to enter the spiritual battle under the banner of Christ the King. "Viva Cristo Rey!"

Sunday, April 10, 2011

If you are an organ donor or are considering becoming one, you need to read Randy Engel's article at SperoForum. And don't miss the comments, especially the long response from the mother whose son was killed for his organs. How many others have shared his fate?

The ad below is so dishonest it's astonishing. (Actually, it's not astonishing. It's what the liberal left does.)

Abortion is legal, you liars. Nothing that is going on at present affects that AT ALL (unfortunately). Planned Parenthood can continue to kill babies all do long (over 900 every day!). The fight is over who pays for it? But why let facts get in the way of your emotional argument. Drag out the bloody coathanger. But don't show the cases of men who put abortifacient drugs in their girlfriends' coffee mugs or kick them in the abdomen or kill them. ("It's your choice, but make the right one, b****!") Sixty-four percent of abortions involve coercion. And the leading cause of death among pregnant women is murder.

Abortion hasn't made women safer. It has made them the target of predatory men who want their little sex objects but not the complication of a baby and child support payments for 18 years. So kill the kid. And if mom won't go along kill her too. Check out the data on coerced abortion here. Abortion kills in more ways than one. And one of its worst murders is the murder of the soul and the conscience of many men and women. Pray for an end to abortion!

Rep Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has an appropriate name. She believes "women's health" is synonymous with slaughtering babies. Hey, we all know abortion makes women healthier....except for the ones who get breast cancer because they interrupted the maturation of breast cells which makes them cancer resistant.

And how civil to claim that the tea party freshmen came to Washington "to kill women" and are like the Nazis. (Didn't quite get that comparison.) As far as I know most of the men elected are married with children. Presumably they don't want to kill their wives and daughters. Maybe they just want to "punish" them with a baby like Obama says. Or maybe they don't want to see their daughters damaged and their grandchildren murdered. Wonder if this intellectually deprived woman has any dead grandbabies.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

John Boehner has just given away the Republican victory of 2010 at the bargaining table. Like the proverbial Uncle Sam who always wins the war but loses the peace, he has unilaterally disarmed the Republican Party by showing that he will not shut down the government and will, instead, willingly give way on even the most modest of cuts in order to avoid it. He now has no arrows left in his quiver. Continue reading...

The Cook County jail now has a policy that houses inmates according to their perceived gender. In other words males living in a virtual world where they are females will be housed with real biological females. While the current detainee has a personal cell and shower facility (Isn't that nice.) what will the future bring? Won't life be fun when real women are exposed on a daily basis to the "junk" of men pretending to be women? As someone who has been jailed (with other women) for rescuing babies at abortion mills, I think I would file a lawsuit to protect myself from this jail-mandated indecency.

The jail is providing "gender counseling" to the inmate and giving "sensitivity training" to its employees. Now who do you think is paying for that? Read the article here for a taste of the latest insanity from the world of liberalism.

Friday, April 8, 2011

I find it incredibly appropriate that the the divisive issue that is so central that it threatens to shut down the government is what?..... Let's hear it, boys and girls:

KILLING BABIES!

Nothing else is as important to the left as Planned Parenthood being able to make sure those little ones in the womb continue to be ripped apart, stabbed in the heart,﻿ dismembered, poisoned, have their brains sucked out, etc. AND ALL PAID FOR BY THE TAXPAYERS!

Obama and company are willing to stop paying our soldiers whose lives are on the line daily. They are willing to send policemen and firemen home on layoff, but the one non-negotiable absolute on their agenda is:

Let's hear it....

KEEP KILLING THOSE BABIES!

They will lie about how much they care about women while they protect an organization that covers for child predators and helps venal men coerce their girlfriends into abortion to save them from having to support "the brats!"﻿ Killing babies is the center of their party's platform. It's not motherhood and apple pie, but baby killing and taxpayer funding of it that makes America great. That's what the Democratic party stands for.

From a practical viewpoint, think how many of those babies would be working today and contributing to the tax base if they hadn't been murdered in the womb. Harry Reid says, the "Tea Party is trying to move its extreme social agenda” by “throwing women under the bus.” But it's Reid and the Democrats who are willing to throw little unborn women under the bus and their moms too. Planned Parenthood exploits women while pretending to be compassionate. Ask women who didn't want their abortions how much encouragement they received at Planned Parenthood to make a different choice. Ask women who regret being put on the pill as teenagers how they feel about PP. Pro-choice is no choice. And if the government shuts down over the most important issue we face in this country, so be it.

Planned Parenthood must be defunded! Pray and fast that the Republicans stand firm. Not a cent for baby killing and baby killing organizations!

Mike Voris of Real Catholic TV is a prophet. Like John the Baptist he doesn't mince words about the crisis in the Church in America. And, like John, the powers that be are not too happy. Sooooo, what do pharisees do to prophets? They (take your pick) throw them in the well (try to get them out of sight and mind), stone them (with calumny and detraction), and kill them (eliminate their ministry). The Diocese of Scranton recently banned Voris from speaking although homosexual activists speaking at a local Catholic college are no problemo. Voris, on the other hand, is offensive to them. Where have we heard that before?

But according to an article by Matt Abbott at Renew America, the real Voris assassins are in the Diocese of Detroit where Real Catholic TV originates. Now I've been to Detroit and attended a Mass where the padre skipped the creed and took umbrage with me for saying something after Mass. (I was respectful and cheerful and began with a compliment.) In fact, according to my husband who witnessed it, the priest gave me the single digit salute as I walked away. (See article here.) A friend who attended another parish nearby for Mass the same day left when the priest changed the words of the Consecration. So let's just say, Detroit has a few problems.

The diocese over the years gave the Church a number of the worst heterodox bishops (Gumbleton and Untener among them) and was (is?) a hotbed of homosexuality. Call to Action had its origin in Detroit as well. But the Lord has a habit of raising up prophets in the very places they are most needed. So Real Catholic TV's presence there is no surprise. And neither is the attack on Voris' prophetic voice.

The new Archbishop (Vigneron) has a reputation for quietly working behind the scenes to restore the faith. I'm not sure the quiet approach can work very effectively in the Augean Stables. I think the archbishop may need to find a river to redirect through his filthy chancery. Let's hope he can turn things around before the faith disappears entirely in Detroit.

So pray for Michael Voris and all the pharisees in the U.S. Church who widen their phylactories and parade their pro-life credentials once a year when they attend the March for Life and then return home and fund every anti-life, pro-homosexual, democrat-supporting community organizing group they can find. There is, indeed, a schism in the U.S. Church, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It is better for evil to be out in the open. It's easier to fight when you can see the enemy.

God bless Mike Voris and all those in the Church today who are courageous enough to speak the truth. May they reap a prophet's reward.

My daughter Alice is becoming a real photo artist. I love this picture because it reminds me of how much light children bring into the world and how much we can learn from them if we are humble enough to listen. To see more of her work go to Frodo Seven.

What a joy it is to have a friend of the heart. One of mine, Joe Wall, a dear fellow rescuer, lives in a suburb of Philadelphia. Every now and then I go to my mailbox and find a letter or package from him that is always filled with something unexpected and special. Today it was a book, a work of historical fiction on St. Thomas More. It's an old and obviously well-loved paperback from Image Press. In the back is Joe's name and the date, January 1963, when he first read it. In his accompanying letter, Joe writes:

Not long ago I came across the enclosed book, Stage of Fools, in the course of sorting through my innumerable piles of books. As you can see, I had read it over forty-seven years ago. Naturally, I sat down and reread it! Read more here...

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Many women tell of being coerced into abortion. They don't want it but find no support. With a boyfriend insisting on an abortion and friends telling them it's the sensible answer they go to the abortion mill expecting to get real counseling. Instead the "counselor" who is actually an abortion marketer convinces the girl that abortion is the only reasonable option. So the young woman suppresses her feelings that it's not right (How can all those people be wrong?) and goes through with it.

Send your message to Disney officials urging them to host this event after hours so families don't have their children exposed to same sex scandalous behavior like bizarre cross dressing. Go here to send your email. I suggest you alter the subject line and personalize the message. It makes the project much more effective than a generalized form email. Go here to send an email.

I actually saw the Planned Parenthood pink bus on Interstate 81 yesterday evening about 5:00 p.m. near Mt. Jackson, VA heading north. Note the last "fact" on the bus: 830,000 breast exams. What a lie! We all know now, thanks to Live Action, that Planned Parenthood doesn't have any mammogram machines and that some clinics don't even have a doctor on site. They give out the morning after pill via a doctor on a computer who never meets the client in real life. Doesn't that give new meaning to the expression, "a decision between a woman and 'her' doctor? Of course, in many places you can get Plan B at the pharmacy without a prescription. Once more women are the guinea pigs of the pharmaceutical companies making drugs with no other purpose than killing babies. One of the ways MAP works is by preventing implantation. If a woman takes MAP after ovulating (sperm reaches the fallopian tubes within minutes after sexual intercourse) it will operate as an abortifacient because once fertilization takes place it's too late to prevent pregnancy!

Help defund Planned Parenthood whose only real purpose is to kill babies in the womb, give out birth control to plan NOT to have babies, and teach kids how to fornicate without getting that "disease" called a baby. The pretense that they are doing anything positive for "reproductive health" is a myth. There is nothing about Planned Parenthood that encourages virtue, self respect, or respect for life. PP is all about hedonism and selfishness...oh, and eliminating "human weeds."

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Apparently when the kids heard that the pro-aborts were going to picket the dinner honoring Joe Scheidler, the Chicago pro-life flash mob decided to strike again. Blaring Star Wars music and carrying their signature yellow balloons blazoned with "LIFE" about 100 young people showed up to cheer and spread out the red carpet for Joe. They put the meager pro-abort crowd to shame as well as stealing their negative thunder and transforming it into a passionate parade of LIFE! Which group would you rather be with? The descendents of the ruthless King Edward who killed all in his path or the modern day Bravehearts! Thank you, Lord, for these survivors of our abortion culture whose love for life is so contagious. See the complete story here...

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

I'm still rolling on the floor laughing. Whoever wrote this ad for the NRSC is brilliant! Not only that, but it's a tactic from the community organizer's bag of tricks: ridicule your opponent. There is sure plenty to ridicule in Obama's first two years in office. Pass this one around.

California is one of the biggest textbook purchaser in the nation, so as California goes so goes American schools. And California is about to pass another brainwashing bill to indoctrinate kids in homosexuality. Here's the text of CALIFORNIA -- Bill SB48 [My comments in red]:

SECTION 1. Section 51204.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:
51204.5. Instruction in social sciences shall include the early history of California and a study of the role and contributions of both men and women, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups, to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society. [Wow! This made me laugh. At least they included "European Americans" among all the other groups. Although those wicked spaniards in California didn't do anything by persecute, maim, and exploit -- just ask the politically correct "historians."]

SEC. 2. Section 51500 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51500. A teacher shall not give instruction and a school district shall not sponsor any activity that promotes a discriminatory bias on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. [So the after school Bible club can't discuss any passages that may disparage sodomy since it is a protected activity.]

SEC. 3. Section 51501 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51501. The state board and any governing board shall not adopt any textbooks or other instructional materials for use in the public schools that contain any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. [Sooo any textbook that describes the traditional family as the building block of society has to go. Any photos of "family" can't exclusively show a man and a woman, but must show all the variations. Word problems in Math books can't use language that addresses Mom and Dad making a family budget. This is where the brainwashing becomes completely systemic.]

SEC. 4. Section 60040 of the Education Code is amended to read:

60040. When adopting instructional materials for use in the schools, governing boards shall include only instructional materials which, in their determination, accurately portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society, including:
(a) The contributions of both men and women in all types of roles, including professional, vocational, and executive roles.
(b) The role and contributions of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, persons with disabilities, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups to the total development of California and the United States. [History textbooks have already been skewed by this nonsense by introducing obscure politically correct characters and dropping Patrick Henry, Nathan Hale, etc. to make room for them.]

(c) The role and contributions of the entrepreneur and labor in the total development of California and the United States.

SEC. 5. Section 60044 of the Education Code is amended to read:

60044. A governing board shall not adopt any instructional materials for use in the schools that, in its determination, contain :

(a) Any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, occupation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. [In other words, in discussing current events, the teacher may not have an open discussion on contentious issues like gay marriage without advancing the "gays'" politically correct position. To discuss the opposition would be "reflecting adversely" on the LGBT crowd. This is tyranny plain and simple.]

(b) Any sectarian or denominational doctrine or propaganda contrary to law.
SEC. 6. It is the intent of the Legislature that alternative and charter schools take notice of the provisions of this act in light of Section 235 of the Education Code, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or other specified characteristics in any aspect of the operation of alternative and charter schools.

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